The Government must come up with sustainable measures in the ongoing war against illicit brews and substance abuse, a former boss of the national anti-drug agency has said.
Former National Authority for Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) Chief Executive Officer Jenipher Kimani warned that chances of the addicts relapsing are very high, which might result in suicides, violent activities or excessive alcohol intake.
She emphasised that drug addiction is a disease, which cannot be easily resolved with the limited time issued by President Uhuru Kenyatta to elected leaders to spearhead the fight against the menace.
"The President's directive is commendable and a clear commitment that the Government is determined to fight alcohol but we must come up with serious interventions if we have to end this war," she said.
She continued: "All leaders should take it up to sort it out completely. However, we must take into account the levels of dependency of the addicts. There is the tertiary level for instance, which is very advance and sudden withdrawals will have serious consequences."
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Ms Kimani in an exclusive interview with The Standard cautioned that instant withdrawals by destroying the source of alcohol without any dependent intervention for affected persons may lead the addicts to be very violent to the extent of even killing, committing suicide or even losing focus. "We might have a big problem in our hands than what we perceive. This exercise needs a holistic approach," she said.
Kimani suggested that both the national and county governments should work together and come up with initiatives that will provide for rehabilitation. "Let us not jump from a frying pan into the fire in the name of fighting second generation drinks. As much as we have the political will, its implementation is very important," she said.
Elsewhere, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery has issued a directive that chiefs and police officers found protecting producers of illicit brews be sacked.
The CS also accused some Kenya Revenue Authority and Kenya Bureau of Standards officials of working in cahoots with the producers.
"We have information that some government officials are working with the producers of these brews and action will be taken against them," he said.
Speaking in Naivasha, the CS said that he will today release the list of chiefs who have been sent home for abetting the sale of illicit brews.
